Raleigh, N.C. Governor Pat McCrory announced today that North Carolina has received a $200,000 grant that will expand truck driver training courses to Camp Lejeune Marines and their spouses. The grant is from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The FMCSA grant will be awarded to the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) and will allow the NCDMV to continue and expand the military truck driver training program.

"Our administration is committed to expanding opportunities to education, services and jobs for veterans and military families in our state," said Governor McCrory. "This a great example of the initiative taken by our Division of Motor Vehicles to bring help and civilian job preparation to our returning forces. An added benefit is the trucking industry will gain highly trained drivers to help keep our economy rolling."

Offered at Fort Bragg since 2013, the courses have trained and graduated 105 newly licensed truck drivers. For the first time since the grant began, the courses also will be made available to Marines and their spouses at Camp Lejeune.

"We are happy that the Division of Motor Vehicle's work to make this much-needed program successful and sustainable over the past two years has been recognized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This will enable it to grow and expand to Camp Lejeune," said Motor Vehicles Commissioner Kelly J. Thomas.

The FMCSA has partnered with NCDMV to provide the program, offering classes at reduced rates for returning service members and their spouses. It provides classroom instruction and hands-on driving experience to members enrolled. Instructors from Johnston Community College's Truck Driver Training Division provide enhanced training that helps ensure safe highway operations.

Each student is responsible for paying $120 in fees that includes a $15 driving permit (due after completion of the knowledge and vision tests), a $30 commercial driver license application fee and, upon successful completion of the course, $75 for a five-year North Carolina commercial driver license.

Between August 2013 and September 2015, the partnership has offered a series of nine eight-week commercial truck driver training courses at Fort Bragg.